The board's staff has tallied that to completely repair and replace the entire system will cost between $3.3 and $3.6 billion.

The board's staff has tallied that to completely repair and replace the entire system will cost between $3.3 and $3.6 billion.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 11:09 PM CST Dec 11, 2014

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT BILLION DOLLARS... THAT'S WHATSEWERAGE AND WATERBOARD OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL TAKETO COMPLETELY REPAIR ORREPLACE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. NEXTWEEK THE BOARD WILL TRYTO GET THE 2015 BUDGET APPROVEDTO BEGIN THAT WORKIN THE NEW YEAR. WDSU REPORTERCASEY FERRAND IS HERE NOW WITHMORE ON THE BUDGET AND WHY SOMEPEOPLE SAY THEY CAN NOWSEE WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING.AFTER YEARS OF COMPLAINTS FROMRESIDENTS ABOUT THE LOCAL WATERSYSTEM... THE NEW HEAD OF THESEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD ISSETTING OUT TO DO A COMPLETEOVERHAUL OVER THE NEXT 10YEARS. ALREADY RESIDENTS SAYTHEY'RE SEEING THE IMPROVEDEFFORTS.NEW ORLEANS RESIDENTS HAVE LONGCOMPLAINED ABOUT THE LACKOF WORK ON THE AGING SEWERAGEAND WATER BOARD SYSTEM ...OR WORK BEING DONE THEN REDONEBY MULTIPLE CITYCREWS. BUT ONE RESIDENT SAYSHE'S SEEING A DIFFERENCE INRECENT MONTHS... I've noticedin our neighborhood a markedimprovement in the way thesewerage and water board crewscome into the neighborhood andattack ajob and get a job done and areable to move on.we're building confidence in thefinancial markets in what we'redoing, we're building confidenceI hope in thecommunity. THE SEWERAGE ANDWATER BOARD IS SEEKING TO GETITS 2015...347-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGETAPPROVED NEXT WEEK... TO BEGINREPAIRING AND REPLACING THENETWORK OF LEAKY PIPES,DRAINAGE CANALS, PUMPINGSTATIONS AND OUTDATED POWERSUPPLY. We have designed 44projects in one year. That'sunheard of and we have theability to turn out 25 in a yearwhen we used to do 10 we're justdoing things on amuch larger scale with much morecapacity so we can deliver moreto the people.SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARDEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CEDRICGRANT SAYS AT LEAST 25 CAPITALPROJECTS WILL BE DONETHROUGHOUT THE CITY NEXT YEAR...AND CLOSE TO 3 BILLION DOLLARSWORTH OF WORK BETWEEN THE WATERBOARD AND PUBILCWORKS DEPARTMENTS OVER THE NEXTTEN YEARS.when we have the opportunity todo a total reconstruction,everything is going to bereplaced, sewer,water and drainage and newpaving. In those places where wecan pave and patch, we'll do itand we'll doit in a much more coordinatedwayFEDERAL DOLLARS FROM THE ARMYCORPS OF ENGINEERS PLUS AYEARLY RATE INCREASE WILL HELPTO FUND THE PROJECTS...HOWEVER GRANT SAYS THERE ISSTILL 39 MILLION DOLLARS INUNFUNDED PROJECTS THAT WILL BEDEFERRED... UNTILOTHER MONEY IS AVAILABLE. BUTRESIDENTE LIKE ERIC SONGEY...APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT INIMPROVING THE CITY'SINFRASTRUCTURE. we're gettingour money's worth and that's oneof thethings that I've always believedin. peopel are willing to paythe taxes if the money is beingspent wellTHE PROPOSED BUDGET WILLINCREASE ABOUT 10 MILLIONDOLLARS... THAT'S 6-POINT-3PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR. THATWILL ALLOW THE BOARD TO HIRE 55NEW WORKERS AND ATTEND TOROUTINE SYSTEM REPAIRS THAT HAVEBEEN PUT OFF FOR YEARS.SCOTT?

Sewerage & Water Board details proposed $347 million 2015 budget

The board's staff has tallied that to completely repair and replace the entire system will cost between $3.3 and $3.6 billion.